Flying w a 2 Year old

Traveling with a 2 year old who has the "terrible 2's"

Next month we are flying down to flor to take a cruise.

We went last year and it was a Breeze, he was so well behaved, sat in the baby carrier and watched the Ipad, had snacks and slept
Now he is older and more wild not sure how this is going to go-

looking for any suggestions, advice, tips?


can we travel with milk? Fruit pouches?
any limitations?

Flying w a 2 Year old

You can buy milk when you get through security. You can bring food through security so pouches are fine.

Just bring lots for him to do. I either have the iPad or we fly jet blue with TVs. I also get him a new toy that he can't have (or he even knows about) until we are on the plane.

Flying w a 2 Year old

Dd's travel bag always consists of her iPad. I usually download a movie and episodes of a couple of shows, coloring books, crayons, stickers, tons of snacks, milk, fruit pouches. I hit the dollar store and see if I can find a new toy to take out. Dd has flown 5x and she's only 2.5. She slept most of the flights.

Re: Flying w a 2 Year old

Just traveled and brought milk. Two full bottles - no issues they just scan it during security.

Bring a new toy maybe. We also got his own seat and brough car seat - that was the best decision ever.

Flying w a 2 Year old

We just flew last weekend and DS is 27 months.

We were able to bring our milk through. We bought extras when we got past security. We had tons of snacks, toys, coloring books, activity laptop and a Melissa and Doug reuseable sticker book that kept him occupied for hours. We also brought the iPad and portable DVD player.

TBH, DS slept most of the trip and was very good when he wasn't. We brought the carseat but ended up checking it and DS sat in the regular seat.

Message edited 1/18/2016 12:21:47 PM.

Re: Flying w a 2 Year old

Since he is 2 and has his own seat bring his carseat and strap him in. It will be just like he is in the car. I did this last year with my 2 year old and she was so well behaved.

Flying w a 2 Year old

We just booked dds first two plane trips-one in February and one in April.

I'm planning on shipping down a box for the first trip with diapers, play doh, some coloring stuff, and some duplos since we'll be at my grandmas

For the plane itself, I'm hoping to bring a bunch of snacks, the iPad with movies, and a few new toys

Flying w a 2 Year old

Her first airplane trip was at 2yrs old. I brought a new toy for each hour she was on the plane. However, I made sure they were NEVER noisy toys. Just small planes, cars, coloring things. Aquadoodle was a life saver! We were flying to Hawaii from San Antonio and it was sort of last minute so the trip out was longer than the trip back.

We never bring a car seat. Just more crap to haul and deal with frankly. She is always more excited that the plane is the only place she doesn't need one. It signals vacation for her.

We only pull out the ipad when all else fails. Basically because I want it as a last resort. We end up spending a lot of time playing with her, reading to her, making up stories, listening to her, etc. She slept as soon as it takes off. LOL something about take of that makes her and I sleepy. Best part of 2yr old travel was that her tubes were still fully in place in her ear drums. Means no pressure. Now she travels and thinks it's weird to feel that pressure but she's older so it's easier to talk her through it.

Re: Flying w a 2 Year old

does he still nap? can you book your flight around naptime?
that helps .......

My kids are pretty easy going so I don't have to do anything crazy -

a new movie on the iPad, or a few episodes of their favorite show downloaded (with heaphones)
snacks, a drink -
Lolipops and fruit snacks are 2 things I almost NEVER let them have .....so on the plane they're a free for all.

my boys love finding new matchbox cars, or something like that in their backpacks

and I'm being honest here, and will absolutely get the sanctimonious "HOW COULD YOU ??????" from someone .....but really ..If all else fails, I'm not above giving them a dose of benadryl to knock them out for a few hours.
It's not going to hurt them - the Ped has told me to do it a million times .......and everyone is happy. They sleep, you relax and don't have to stress or yell or beg etc.

Enjoy your cruise !